Snow and water skimming device

ABSTRACT

A planing assembly adapted for use on snow or water and including a pair of elongated ski-like members including means for attachment to the lower leg portions of the user of the planing assembly. When attached to the lower legs of the user the ski-like members include upwardly curved forward ends which project beyond the knees of the user and the assembly is adapted to be used with the wearer in a head forward kneeling position with the upper portions of his legs closely overlying and resting upon the lower portions of his legs to which the elongated skilike members are attached. The planing assembly further includes a pair of hand supported planing members to be disposed forward of the leg attached ski-like members and utilized by the user to assist in maintaining his balance and to steer himself.

United States Patent Lake [ 51 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] SNOW AND WATERSKIMMING DEVICE [72] Inventor: Gary F. Lake, 487 Short Street,

Bishop, Calif. 93514 22 Filed: Oct. 1, 1970 21 App1.No.: 77,293

[52] US. Cl ..280/1 1.13 R, 9/310 R, 280/1 1.37 R [51] Int. Cl ..A63c5/00 [58] Field oISearch.....280/11.13 T, 11.13 R, 12, 18,

280/19, 11.37 J, 11.37 R, 11.13 S, 11.13 W;

Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. SmithAttorney-Clarence A. O'Brien and Harvey B. Jacob son [ ABSTRACT Aplaning assembly adapted for use on snow or water and including a pairof elongated ski-like members including means for attachment to thelower leg portions of the user of the planing assembly. When attached tothe lower legs of the user the ski-like members include upwardly curvedforward ends which project beyond the knees of the user and the assemblyis adapted to be used with the wearer in a head forward kneelingposition with the upper portions of his legs closely overlying andresting upon the lower portions of his legs to which the elongatedski-like members are attached. The planing assembly further includes apair of hand supported planing members to be disposed forward of the legattached ski-like members and utilized by the user to assist inmaintaining his balance and to steer himself.

17 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 5, 1972 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 na L F v w 6 Hunted Se t. 5, 1912 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. /0

Gary F. Lake SNOW AND WATER SKIMMING DEVICE The planing assembly of theinstant invention has been specifically designed to provide a novelplaning device which may be utilized both on snow and on water and whichoffers a maximum of four points of support for the user whereby at leastfundamental use of the planing assembly may be readily accomplished.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediatelypreceding object, is to provide a planning assembly which when used willposition the user with his eyes much closer to the surface over which heis planing than could be achieved by the user of a pair of snow skis orwater skis and which will therefore have a tendency to give the illusionof greater speed and thus excitement and pleasure to the user of theplaning assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a planing assemblydesigned to be utilized in a manner which that the user is in at least asemi-kneeling position and which therefore subjects the user to lesschance of injury in the case of a fall inasmuch as the users body willbe at least half way in a tuck position.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein isto provide a planing assembly in accordance with the preceding objectswhich will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simpleconstruction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will beeconomically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free inoperation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first form of the snow and waterskimming device in use;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the leg worn skilike members of thewater skimming device illustrating their position relative to the upperand lower leg portions of a user of the planing assembly when the useris in a standing position and thus illustrating that a person wearingthe elongated ski-like members of the planing assembly may walk about onhis shoes in a substantially conventional manner;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 3on somewhat of a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the hand-held planing members ofthe planing assembly;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one of the elongated skilike members;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an intermediate portionof one of the ski-like members and with the leg attaching means thereofin active position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially uponthe plane indicated by the section line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of one of the shoe worn brake members to beutilized in conjunction with the planing assembly when the latter isused on snow and which is also utilized in securing the correspondingelongated ski-like member to the associated foot;

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of a boot construction designedspecifically for use in conjunction with a modified form of elongatedski-like member;

FIG. 1 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the boot illustratedin FIG. 10 and in operative association with the modified form ofski-like member specifically adapted for use therewith;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially upon the plan indicated by the section line 12-12 of FIG.11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the near side ofthe modified form of ski-like member illustrated in FIG. 11 and as seenfrom the inside thereof with the associated threaded journal plug inexploded position;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the toe portion of theboot illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 and adapted to be utilized inconjunction with the modified form of ski-like member; and

FIGS. 15 and 16 are side and top plan views, respectively, of a modifiedform of hand supported planing member to be used with the leg attachedski-like members illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and 5 through 7.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10generally designates the planing assembly of the instant invention whichincludes a pair of substantially identical leg worn ski-like membersreferred to in general by the reference numeral 12 and a pair ofsubstantially identical hand-held planing members referred to in generalby the reference numeral 14.

The elongated ski-like members 12 include elongated ski body portions 16including forwardly and upwardly curving front ends 18 and upwardlycurving and transversely concaved rear ends 20 whose upper ends includeforwardly and downwardly inclined extensions 22. The extensions 22 aretransversely concave so as to define elongated troughs and the frontends of the extensions 22 meet with and are joined to the elongated skibody portions 16 as at 24 a spaced distance rearward of the front ends18.

The elongated ski body portions 16 include conventional longitudinallyextending center grooves 24 in their under surfaces 26 and removable andreplaceable opposite side edge members 28, as is conventional with snowskis. However, the grooves 24 and edge members 28 may be eliminated ifthe ski-like members 12 are to be utilized solely for planing over thesurface of the body of water and a depending skeg (not shown) may beutilized at the rear end of each elongated ski body portion 16 ofski-like members 12 designed specifically for use on water.

The ski-like members 12 may be constructed of any suitable material suchas glass fiber impregnated plastic and the upper troughed surface ofeach extension 22 is provided with a resilient pad panel 30 constructedof any suitable material such as foam rubber. Also, one marginal edgeportion of each extension 22 has a partial sleeve member 12 securedthereto in any convenient manner by means of fasteners 34 and the otherlongitudinal marginal edge portion of each extension 22 has an opposingpartial sleeve member 36 secured thereto by means of suitable fasteners38. In addition, the fasteners 34 are utilized to secure a plurality ofclamp members 40 to the extensions 22 and the clamp members 40 areutilized to anchor the free ends of a plurality of looped resilientflexible tension members 42 to the corresponding sides of the extensions22. The looped ends of the tension members 42 include strap type hooks44 and the fasteners 38 as well as further fasteners 46 are utilized tosecure anchor members 48 to the longitudinal sides of the extensions 20remote from the fasteners 40. The anchor members each define a pluralityof anchor points 50 with which the associated hook 44 may be engaged.

As may best be seen from FIG. 1 of the drawings, the user 52 applied theski-like members to his lower leg portions with the forward surfaces ofhis lower leg portions cradled in the channel-shaped extensions and thepartial sleeve members 32 and 36 encircled about the calf of his leg.The looped tension members 42 are then stretched over the partial sleevemembers 32 and anchored to corresponding anchor members 48 in propertensioned condition by means of the strap hooks 44.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 9 of the drawingsthere may be seen a boot attaching assembly referred to in general bythe reference numeral 54 and which includes an elongated adjustablelength strap 56 having a buckle 58 on one end and a plurality oflongitudinally spaced coacting apertures 60 formed in its other end. Asecondary strap element 62 is also included in the assembly 54 and hasone end thereof secured to one end portion of the strap as at 64 andloop 66 carried by the other end thereof releasably engageable with ahook anchor 68 carried by the other end of the strap. An angulated toeprotecting and skid plate 70 is also provided and has a pair of loops 72secured to one angulated end portion thereof through which the strapelement 62 passes and the free end of the other end portion of the plate70 is serrated as at 74.

In attaching the member 12 to the leg of the user, the boot attachingassembly 54 has the strap portion thereof encircled about the sole ofthe users boot and the reversely bent portion of the member 12connecting the rear end 20 of the elongated ski-like body portion 16 andthe rear end of the extension 22. Further, the strap element 62 ispassed over the upper portion of the boot of the user 52 disposed withinthe reversely bent portion and in this manner the users boot is attachedto the member 12 and the plate 70 is further attached to the boot of theuser.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawingsit may be seen that the user 52 utilizes the the ski-like members 12 ina head forward kneeling position and that the user 52 holds the planingmembers 14 with his hands. Each planing member 14 comprises a short skibody 78 with an upwardly curving front end 80 and each body 78 includesan upstanding contoured handgrip 82 provided with a wrist strap 84.Thus, it may be seen that the user 52 may traverse a snow covered slopewhile being disposed very close to the surface over which he istraveling. Of course, the planing members may be canted to one side orthe other so as to enable the user 52 to steer his progress down theslope.

If the ski-like members are constructed so as to be specifically adaptedfor use in water, the aforementioned grooves 24 and edge members 28 maybe eliminated in favor of depending rearwardly mounting skegs or ruddersand the planing members 14 may have the upper ends of the handgrips 82interconnected by any suitable crossbar to which a water ski tow ropemay be attached. Further, if the ski-like members 12 are to be utilizedon water, the planing members 14 need not be provided and the user 52may assume a more upright position than that illustrated in FIG. 1 ofthe drawings and hold the handle of a water ski tow rope in his hands inlieu of the handgrips 82 of the planing members 14.

With attention now invited more specifically to FIGS. 10 through 14,there may be seen a modified boot construction to be utilized inconjunction with the ski-like members 12 when the the latter arespecifically adapted for use on snow. The modified boot structure isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 90 and includes anadjustable strap construction 92 by which a pair of oppositelyhorizontally outwardly projecting hemispherical bearing elements 94 aresecured over opposite side portions of the boot construction 90. Bearingelements 94 are positioned so that a line extending between the centersof the bearing elements generally coincides with the pivotal movement ofthe foot of the user 52 relative to his lower leg portion. In additionto being secured to the boot construction 90 by means of the strapconstruction 92, the bearing elements 94 may be provided with suitablemounting flange portions capable of being sewn to the opposite side wallportions of the boot construction 90.

In any event, when the bearing elements 94 are utilized, the oppositeside portions of the rear end portion 20 of each member 12 are providedwith aligned transverse bores 96 in which internally threaded sleeves 98are secured by means of fasteners 100 secured through the opposite sideportions of the rear end portions 20 and mounting flange portionscarried by the inner ends of the sleeves 98. Each of the sleeves 98includes a rearwardly opening semi-cylindrical entranceway portion 102and the opposite sides of the rear end portions 20 are relieved as at104, see FIG. 13, to provide clearance for the entranceway portions 102.In' addition, threaded journal caps 106 have their threaded neckportions 108 removably threadedly engaged in the sleeves 98 and theinner ends of the neck portions 108 having hemispherical sockets 1 10formed therein.

Accordingly, when the user 52 wishes to operatively connect his bootconstruction 90 to the ski-like member 12, the journal caps 106 areremoved and the bearing elements 94 are received into the sleeves 98through the entranceway portions 102 from the rear. Then, the journalcaps 106 are screw-threaded into the outer ends of the threaded boresformed through the sleeves 98 so as to anchor the bearing elements 94within the hemispherical recesses 110. Of course, inasmuch as thejournal caps 106 are secured to the opposite side wall portions of therear ends 20 of the skilike members 12, the boot construction 90 issecured to the rear end portion 20 against removal therefrom.

When the modified boot construction 90 is utilized, the toe of the bootconstruction 90 is provided with a serrated plate 112 to serve thebraking function of the serrated end portion of the plate when the user52 cams the toes of his boot constructions downwardly into the snowsurface over which he is riding.

As may be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the user 52 mayreadily, walk in an upright position while wearing the ski-like members12. Further, the partial sleeve members 32 and 36, the resilient padpanel 30 and the tension members 42 all coact together to secure theski-like members 12 to the lower leg portion of the user 52 in acomfortable manner. Of course, the reversely curing end portions of theski-like members 12 are constructed in a manner whereby the feet of theuser 52 may be readily cammed downwardly into the snow surface overwhich he is moving.

With attention now directed more specifically to FIGS. 15 and 16 of thedrawings, there will be seen a modified form of planing member referredto in general by the reference numeral 114. Each of the planing members114 includes a ski body 116 having a forwardly and upwardly curvingfront end 118 and a hand loop or strap 120 is secured to the uppersurface of the rear end portion of the ski body 116 and includes a widestall for receiving the hand at the base of the four fingers of the user52 and a second narrow stall 124 for receiving the thumb of the user. Ofcourse, either of the planing members 14 or 114 may be utilized inconjunction with the ski-like members 12.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A snow and/or water planing assembly comprising a pair of generallyhorizontal and relatively short skilike members including upwardlycurving forward ends and whose rear ends curve sharply upwardly andforwardly and terminate in forwardly and downwardly inclined extensionsanchored at their forward end portions to the forward end portions ofsaid ski-like members, said extensions being adapted to snugly underliethe lower leg portions of a person disposed on his knees and with saidlower leg portions supported from said extensions and the feet of saidperson projecting downwardly closely behind the upwardly and forwardlycurving rear ends of said ski-like members, and means carried by saidextensions for securing the latter to said lower leg portions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said extensions are upwardlyopening trough-shaped in configuration.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the last-mentioned means includeselongated flexible tension members having one set of corresponding endsanchored to one pair of longitudinal edge portions of said extensionsand coacting means carried by the other set of corresponding ends ofsaid tension members and the other pair of longitudinal edge portions ofsaid extensions removably anchoring the latter tension member ends tosaid other edge portions.

4. The combination of claim 3 including partial cylindrical resilientsleeve means extending between the longitudinal edge portions of saidextensions, opening toward the latter and underlying said tensionmembers.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ski-like members includereplaceable opposite side downwardly facing edge members.

6. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of still shorter ski-likeplaning members each provided with centrally disposed means adapted tobe utilized in anchoring one of said persons hands thereto.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said centrally disposed meanscomprises an upstanding handgrip.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said centrally disposed meanscomprises a horizontal sleeve assembly anchored to and extendinglongitudinally of the lengthwise central portion of each of saidski-like planing members, said sleeve assembly being adapted to receivethe hands of said person therein.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said sleeve assembly includesfirst and second wide and narrow rearwardly opening stall definingportions.

10. The combination of claim 1 including a pair of boots to be worn bysaid person, means oscillatably supporting said boots from the upwardlyand forwardly curving rear ends of said ski-like members betweenopposite side portions thereof and for oscillation about horizontaltransverse axes extending through the ankle enclosing portions of saidboots.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the lastmentioned means includescoacting boot mounted and ski-like member mounted portions.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said boot mounted portions areremovably supported from said boots.

13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said boot mounted portionsinclude oppositely outwardly facing hemispherical members carried by theopposite side portions of each of said boots.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said skilike member mountedportions define inwardly opening and opposing hemispherical socketdefining members carried by opposite side portions of each of saidupwardly and forwardly curving rear ends, the socket defining members ofeach ski-like member being supported for relative adjustable positioningtoward and away from each other.

15. The combination of claim 14 including a pair of still shorterski-like planing members each provided with centrally disposed meansadapted to be utilized in anchoring one of said persons hands thereto.

16. A snow and/or water planing assembly comprising a pair of generallyhorizontal and relatively short ski-like members including elongatedtrough-shaped upper portions extending longitudinally thereof forwardlyfrom the rear end portions of said ski members to points spaced forwardof the longitudinal center points of said ski members, saidtrough-shaped members being adapted to underlie and snugly embracinglycradle substantially the full length of the lower leg portions of aperson disposed in a generally kneeling position, the rear ends of saidtrough-shaped upper portions curving sharply downwardly for closelyreceiving the depending feet of said person therebehind, said upperportions including means for securing said upper portions to said lowerleg portions and said downwardly curving rear ends of said upperportions comprising the rearmost extremities of said ski-like members.

17. A snow and/or water planing assembly comprising a pair of generallyhorizontal and relatively short ski-like members including upwardlycurving forward ends and whose rear ends curve sharply upwardly andforwardly and terminate in forwardly and downwardly inclined extensions,said extensions being adapted to snugly underlie the lower leg portionsof a person disposed on his knees and with said lower leg portionssupported from said extensions and the feet of said per-

1. A snow and/or water planing assembly comprising a pair of generallyhorizontal and relatively short ski-like members including upwardlycurving forward ends and whose rear ends curve sharply upwardly andforwardly and terminate in forwardly and downwardly inclined extensionsanchored at their forward end portions to the forward end portions ofsaid ski-like members, said extensions being adapted to snugly underliethe lower leg portions of a person disposed on his knees and with saidlower leg portions supported from said extensions and the feet of saidperson projecting downwardly closely behind the upwardly and forwardlycurving rear ends of said ski-like members, and means carried by saidextensions for securing the latter to said lower leg portions.
 2. Thecombination of claim 1 wherein said extensions are upwardly openingtrough-shaped in configuration.
 3. The combination of claim 2 whereinthe last-mentioned means includes elongated flexible tension membershaving one set of corresponding ends anchored to one pair oflongitudinal edge portions of said extensions and coacting means carriedby the other set of corresponding ends of said tension members and theother pair of longitudinal edge portions of said extensions removablyanchoring the latter tension member ends to said other edge portions. 4.The combination of claim 3 including partial cylindrical resilientsleeve means extending between the longitudinal edge portions of saidextensions, opening toward the latter and underlying said tensionmembers.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said ski-like membersinclude replaceable opposite side downwardly facing edge members.
 6. Thecombination of claim 1 including a pair of still shorter ski-likeplaning members each provided with centrally disposed means adapted tobe utilized in anchoring one of said person''s hands thereto.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6 wherein said centrally disposed means comprisesan upstanding handgrip.
 8. The combination of claim 6 wherein saidcentrally disposed means comprises a horizontal sleeve assembly anchoredto and extending longitudinally of the lengthwise central portion ofeach of said ski-like planing members, said sleeve assembly beingadapted to receive the hands of said person therein.
 9. The combinationof claim 8 wherein said sleeve assembly includes first and second wideand narrow rearwardly opening stall defining portions.
 10. Thecombination of claim 1 including a pair of boots to be worn by saidperson, means oscillatably supporting said boots from the upwardly andforwardly curving rear ends of said ski-like members between oppositeside portions thereof and for oscillation about horizontal transverseaxes extending through the ankle enclosing portions of said boots. 11.The combination of claim 10 wherein the last-mentioned means includescoacting boot mounted and ski-like member mounted portions.
 12. Thecombination of claim 11 wherein said boot mounted portions are removablysupported from said boots.
 13. The combination of claim 10 wherein saidboot mounted portions include oppositely outwardly facing hemisphericalmembers carried by the opposite side portions of each of said boots. 14.The combination of claim 13 wherein said ski-like member mountedportions define inwardly opening and opposing hemispherical socketdefining members carried by opposite side portions of each of saidupwardly and forwardly curving rear ends, the socket defining members ofeach ski-like member being supported for relative adjustable positioningtoward and away from each other.
 15. The combination of claim 14including a pair of still shorter ski-like planing members each providedwith centrally disposed means adapted to be utilized in anchoring one ofsaid person''s hands thereto.
 16. A snow and/or water planing assemblycomprising a pair of generally horizontal and relatively short ski-likemembers including elongated trough-shaped upper portions extendinglongitudinally thereof forwardly from the rear end portions of said skimembers to points spaced forward of the longitudinal center points ofsaid ski members, said trough-shaped members being adapted to underlieand snugly embracingly cradle substantially the full length of the lowerleg portions of a person disposed in a generally kneeling position, therear ends of said trough-shaped upper portions curving sharplydownwardly for closely receiving the depending feet of said persontherebehind, said upper portions including means for securing said upperportions to said lower leg portions and said downwardly curving rearends of said upper portions comprising the rearmost extremities of saidski-like members.
 17. A snow and/or water planing assembly comprising apair of generally horizontal and relatively short ski-like membersincluding upwardly curving forward ends and whose rear ends curvesharply upwardly and forwardly and terminate in forwardly and downwardlyinclined extensions, said extensions being adapted to snugly underliethe lower leg portions of a person disposed on his knees and with saidlower leg portions supported from said extensions and the feet of saidperson projecting downwardly closely behind the upwardly and forwardlycurving rear ends of said ski-like members, and means carried by saidextensions for securing the latter to said lower leg portions.